VULCAN, Alberta — The fictional Vulcan world in "Star Trek" lore, birthplace of Mr. Spock, isn't really some 16 light years away after all. It's 700 miles northeast of Salt Lake City.
Located in the Canadian Badlands, about 55 miles southeast of Calgary and some 80 miles northeast of Cardston, this agricultural community of about 2,000 residents has a widespread "Star Trek" theme.
Wheat, canola and barley dominate the landscape in Vulcan County, but surprisingly there's an unexpected touch of Hollywood, too, with a "Star Trek" museum.
Since the late 1980s, the town has been beaming toward an orientation of all things "Star Trek," but the town's biggest boost to date came in April when Leonard Nimoy (alias Mr. Spock) visited the area.
The Vulcan Tourism and Trek Station in town is already hyping that milestone and hopes for more "Trek" stars to visit the town in the future.
According to a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor, Nimoy said this visit to Vulcan was like coming home after 44 years of portraying a fictional alien from the planet Vulcan.
The town sponsored a parade in Nimoy's honor and now plans on Spock Days as an annual spring event.
The Tourism Station includes a bust of Nimoy as Spock, his handprint with the famous "Live long and prosper" sign, some original Vulcan ears and many more Trek collectibles.
There is also an outdoor 31-foot-long, 9-foot-tall, 5-ton replica of the first Starship Enterprise — billed as the world's largest known model. Signs in Klingon language are also found.
There are even Vulcan ears and Trek costumes available for tourists to dress up in for free for photographs in front of a movie-set backdrop.
"Wait until Bill Shatner hears about this," Nimoy told the Christian Science Monitor about his visit to Canada's Vulcan.
One of the museum staff said actor Tim Russ (Tuvok in "Star Trek: Voyager") and actress Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi of "Star Trek: The Next Generation") had visited, too.
The Station inherited hundreds of collectibles from a late fan of "Star Trek." There is also "Trek" artwork and character representations scattered about the town, and periodic "Trek" conventions are held in Vulcan.
This town was actually named for the Roman god of fire, but the modern reinvention has put it firmly on tourist maps.
Located on Highway 23, Vulcan isn't that far off the main road to Calgary — only about 20 miles to the east — for those using the continuation of I-15 — Highway 2 in Canada.
For more information, go to www.vulcantourism.com, or call 403-485-2994.
e-mail: lynn@desnews.com